Seating for Elderly Standing in Lines

[DisneyKobi]

Our family has been with Disney as DVC members for years. We're getting on in years but still attend with adult kids and grandkids. I'm amazed that Disney hasn't recognized this point and added more seating around the parks! It's so bad that we purchased and carry on our belt loops, small tripod seats that we can open/extend into great temporary seating. If I had $10 for every time someone asked me where I got one (or if I could sell one to everyone who wanted one) I'd be a billionaire! Come on Disney...we paid big bucks for DVC membership and tickets -- what's the deal??

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Most attractions are constant load so the lines are always moving. Form most of the shws the pre-show area is designed to hold a full theater and there is no room to put in benches.

The official recommendation for anyone with mobility and/or stamina issues iis to rent a wheelchair or ECV.

 

[DisneyKobi]

Alas, we have rented wheelchairs for the elderly in our group. I'm talking about seating where there is clearly space for Disney to do so (but doesn't). Frankly, that's treating a very lucrative market segment very poorly. IMHO.

 

[livndisney]

From the WDW website:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/theme-parks/#/subCategory8

Are there any personal items I should not bring with me into the theme parks?


Items that you may not bring into the theme parks include but are not limited to:
•Items with wheels, such as:
•Wagons
•Skateboards
•Scooters
•Inline skates
•Shoes with built-in wheels
•Strollers larger than 36" x 52" (92 x 132 cm)
•Suitcases, coolers or backpacks with or without wheels larger than 24" (61 cm) long x 15" (38 cm) wide x 18" (46 cm) high. (Coolers required for medication may be stored in a locker or at Guest Relations.)
•Any trailer-like object that is pushed or towed by an ECV wheelchair or stroller
•Alcoholic beverages
•Weapons of any kind
•Folding chairs
•Glass containers (excluding baby food jars and perfume bottles)
•Pets (unless they are service animals)

 

[disneychic2]

Where is there room to put seating while in line? Also, would it just be for elderly? How would that be policed? I think they do a pretty good job.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Both my points were brought up. Lines are constantly moving and with seats anywhere there's no way to guarentee there would ever be some free for older folks. I do agree that I seems like there's less benches around the park but even if there were more they'd just as likely be taken. I don't think paying into DVC has anything to do with it. Yes you're giving them your business, but so is everyone else in the parks.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Yeah, why just elderly? What about pregnant woman? I almost died in some of the lines last week. LOL I could have used a tripod and I pulled up the floor quite a few times. There is plenty of room in line for a tiny tripod chair. I can see though, why it's not a good idea. If everyone pulled out their tiny chair it wouldn't work well and the lines would actually move slower, YK?

 

[Dismom55]

I have a very bad back and standing in a long not moving very fast line is very hard on me. I think this question should go to the Disability portion of these boards, seems to me there is a card that a person can get that shows the CM you have a medical issue. Not that it allows you to jump the line, but was of help. Can not remember, we did not need to check it out on our last trip as we took my then 77 yr old mother and rented her a wheelchair and was able to use that entrance where possible.

 

[melissapealo]

They have GAC (guest assistance cards) available at guest relations. It allows you to go into a different entrance at the rides. I don't think it allows you to get on the ride any faster, but maybe they'd have seating where you wait. Might be something worth looking into for you next visit.

 

[livndisney]

They have GAC (guest assistance cards) available at guest relations. It allows you to go into a different entrance at the rides. I don't think it allows you to get on the ride any faster, but maybe they'd have seating where you wait. Might be something worth looking into for you next visit.

Disneys answer to mobility issues is to rent a wheelchair/ecv. They do not provide an area with seating in lines.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

The GAC card is intended for people with hidden disabilities, in other words thing you cannot "see". Since most of the lines are mainstreamed, you'd end up waiting in the same line as everyone else and if you had to load with a wheelchair you'd be diverted towards the end of the line. The rides/attractions that do not have mainstreamed lines do load at a different spot but the ONLY one that I've ever seen with seats was Spaceship Earth and they don't use them all the time. The GAC is also not intended to shorten wait times. Sometimes it can, sometimes you can wait a lot longer. Certain rides have only a few accessible vehicles and you can end up having to wait for them.

Seats in lines would just encourage people to linger, and you'd end up with situations like the mom and little ones sitting there then having to gather everything and everyone back up to keep moving, or people that would want to stay on the seats but not let anyone ahead of them. It's just not a feasible option, and I truly doubt you'll ever see any kind of seating in line, save for the few shows that have a bench or 2 in the preshow/waiting area like Hall of Presidents. Disney will always maintain that if you have that much of an issue standing in line that a wheelchair or ECV will be the best way to go.